The Burning Beat: Win a pair of cocktails

Over the next 3 weeks, we've teamed up with the debauched Saturday night cabaret event, The Burning Beat! 

Calling All Denizens of the Demi-Monde! 

THE BURNING BEAT is a new Saturday night cocktail of cabaret curiosities and bold, brassy bands, swaying to the rapturous rhythm of wild-eyed, tavern stomping gypsy carnival rock n' roll. 

A broken ballet of debauchery, performed every week across three floors of decadent decor, and set to an eclectic soundtrack of Electro-Swing, Balkan Beats & Vintage Jukebox Gems. 

All of which is brought to you by the night's hosts - distinguished DJ duo The Roustabouts, and David Harris of the infamous Boom Boom Club. 

From bygone eras to the furthest flung corners of the globe, THE BURNING BEAT goes on....

Over the next 3 weeks, we will be giving away 5 pairs of experimental cocktails, which can be redeemed at any Burning Beat event throughout April or May!

 

 Each week we will announce 2 winners (and 1 winner for the last week) from those that have entered at least one of the ways below!

1. Like The Burning Beat on facebook and comment on our facebook post letting us know!

2. Follow The Burning Beat on Twitter and tweet "I've entered the @playfulpromises comp to win cocktails at @Theburningbeat" with a link to this blog post.

3. Email anna@playfulpromises.com with the subject line "THE BURNING BEAT COMP"

 Each entry gives you one chance, so you have up to three chances! 

The first two winners will be announced on the 10th, the next two on the 17th, and the final on the 24th.

We're all going on a... staycation!

Image via www.moredesignplease.com

As I'm sure you have all noticed – Summer’s officially here (well, at least it is inbetween the clouds...)! And what better way to enjoy the beautiful British sunshine than with a staycation?! Who needs to go to a far flung corner of the Earth when you can have a heavenly time right on your doorstep, what’s not to love about BBQ’s, lazy days in the garden and having a legitimate reason to eat ice cream?

Is there any better way to spend a gorgeous summer day than with some classic cocktails in the sun? Here are the Playful Promises team's classic summer favourites!

Classic Mojito

• 10 fresh mint leaves

• ½ lime cut into 4 wedges

• 2 tablespoons of white sugar

• 50ml of white rum

• Club soda

• Ice

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge in a glass and crush. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle together. Fill the glass with ice and pour the rum and club soda into the glass. Stir and garnish with the final lime wedge.

Margaritas

• 50ml tequila

• 25ml cointreau

• Dash of lime juice

To prepare the glass, rub lime juice around the rim and dip in salt. Now the bit we’re all interested in! Put the tequila, cointreau and lime juice into a cocktail shaker full over ice and shake it up! Then put it in the glass and you’re good to go!

Tom Collins

• 60ml gin

• 35ml fresh lemon juice

• 20ml sugar syrup

• Soda Water

• Lemon wedges

Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice and stir. Strain into a tall glass over ice and top with soda water, garnish with a lemon wedge and enjoy!

If you ever get bored of sitting in the garden sipping these delicious concoctions, which I highly doubt, but you never know!  Why not venture down to our Boxpark boutique and bag yourself some beautiful underwear to go under your summer dress? The Juliette Ultramarine Lace Soft Cup Bra and Brief is perfect for ‘Lazing on a sunny afternoon’ in beautiful Blighty.

What will you be getting up to this Summer? Have you escaped the Olympics madness?

Cocktails or: how I learn't to stop worrying and love Christmas

You may not be aware of this, but I'm possibly the most pessimistic of the Playful Promises team. And by the time Christmas rolls around I'm one big ball of grump. While the idea of doing nothing but eating thrills me more than words could say (see above: me last Christmas), I am soon reminded of just how long I can sit in the same room as my Grandmother and her notorious gum-chewing. 

And this is when delving into your drinks cabinet is a good idea. Those last drops of blue liqueur, decades old vodka and that stuff you can't even pronounce that smells like paint stripper... they can all come to good use in that wonderful cocktail shaker. 

Here is my little list of must-haves to tide you over until the new year!

Why Santa has a naughty list

You may notice that I'm a sucker for cocktails with silly names. I'm also a sucker for sweet cocktails!

• 30ml Amaretto

• 30ml Gin

• 30ml Liqueur, banana

• 15ml Grenadine

• Lemonade

 Use a long glass for this, adding crushed ice first, then your gin and amaretto. Top up with lemonade while adding grenadine slowly, then layer the banana liqueur on top.

Snowflaketini

• 40ml Alizé (Passionfruit liqueur)

• 30ml Vodka

• 1 splash Cranberry Juice

• 1 wedge Lemon

• 2 sprinkles Coconut

An easy one - chuck it all into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake and pour into a martini glass. Sprinkle the coconut on top and sugar rim the glass if you are feeling fancy!

The Grinch

• 60ml Midori (melon liqueur)

• 15ml lemon juice

• 1 tsp simple syrup

• Maraschino cherry for garnish

Representing the change that came over the Grinch, this super sweet cocktail is another easy shaker. Pop everything in a shaker with ice, shake and serve in a martini glass with the cherry for garnish.

Cranberry Cutie

For those good girls and boys that like their drinks untainted! 

• 60ml red cranberry juice

• 60ml apple juice

• 15ml honey

• Maraschino cherry for garnish

Shake and pour into a martini glass, garnish with cherry.